1. Boxer Michael Watson's career cut short
The year, 1991, opponent Chris Eubank. It was a rematch, but little did Watson know that it would be his last bout in boxing. It was in this match that he received near-fatal injuries to the brain. He had to suffer through 40 days in a coma and undergo six complicated operations to the brain to get rid of blood clots. But since then, with the help of therapy he has regained his hearing and walking abilities.
2. F1 great Ayrton Senna crashes into concrete wall
At the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994, in Lap 7, Senna, who was ripping through at 190MPH complained of a steering problem with his ride, although he slowed his car down to 135MPH the snag proved to be unmanageable causing his car to crash into a concrete barrier. Senna succumbed to ruptured temporal arteries and several skull fractures.
3. American Footballer Korey Stringer's death
At the MInessota Vikings training camp in 2001, 25-year-old offensive – Korey collapsed mid-session on the 2nd day. It was later determined that it was a heat stroke that took Stringer's life.
4. NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt dies after collision during race
It was the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, in which both Dale Earnhardt Sr. and son Jr. were competing against each other for the coveted trophy. Earnhardt Sr. is said to have hit fellow driver Sterling Marlin’s car and crashed into a wall, 2 seconds after which Earnhardt Jr. finished the race. Although he was rushed to the hospital, Dale succumbed to his injuries.
5. WWE fighter Owen Hart's accidental fall from 90 ft. high
Owen, who hails from the legendary Hart-wrestling family from Canada, was his usual self at 1999 Over the Edge pay-per-view publicity stunt as his famous Blue-Blaze. He was supposed to be slowly brought down by a rope from the ceiling when disaster struck, and Hart fell to his death from a height of 90 Ft.
6. Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke's training accident
Sarah Burke is a four times Winter-X gold medalist and the 2005 World champion of the halfpipe who successfully lobbied the halfpipe into the 2014 winter Olympics. The accident took place when Sarah was training for the then upcoming Championship in January 2012. She died due to severe injuries to her vertebral artery during a training run.
7. Ice-Hockey player Don Sanderson dies in a Hockey fight
It was in December 2008 at an Ontario Hockey Association senior league match held between the Brantford Blast & the Whitby Dunlops when Dunlop's defenseman Sanderson got into a fight with Brantford forward Corey Fulton. Both the player then fell into the ground, and Sanderson smashed his head into the ground. This resulted in a coma, out of which Sanderson never recovered, and finally died at the age of 21.
8. Luge racer Nodar Kumaritashvili's tragic death during a training run
Nodar Kumaritashvili got set for a trial run at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He had previously expressed fear with his father regarding the blazing speeds at the Vancouver track. When the accident took place, Nodar was traveling at speeds of 90MPH and crashed into a metal pole.
9. Cricketer David Lawrence's knee-cap shatters during his run-up stride
David Lawrence was an English cricketer who played Tests and ODI games from 1988 to 1992. He was born to Jamaican parents residing in England and was a man of athletic build. On 10th February 1992, David was playing for England against New Zealand. During his run up, there was a loud sound (people call it a pistol shot) which was the sound of his kneecap shattering. This effectively ended his cricketing career.
10. Cricketer Mark Boucher loses left eye during a county match
Mark Boucher of South-Africa was an exceptional wicketkeeper, having had the record for the most number of Test dismissals. While batting in a county game against Somerset, he was struck by a bail and suffered serious eye injury as he wasn't wearing any protective gear.
11. Soccer team struck by lightening killing/injuring just one team
It was in October 1998 in the Kasai province of the Democratic Republic of Congo that a Soccer game was held between the Bena Tshadi and the Basanga teams. Apparently, a lightening struck the football field killing all the 11 Bena Tshadi players and gravely injuring 30 others, while the Basanga team was left unharmed. Controversy erupted when accusations of witchcraft were made against Basanga, later dropped due to the civil war at that time.
